The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen eBook

ascending, perceived that the whole had been so completely
covered with the sand, that there appeared no hills,
but one continued plain, with inequalities or ridges
on it like the waves of the sea. We soon extricated
our vehicle and retinue from the burning sands, but
not without great danger, as the heat was very violent,
and began to proceed on our voyage. Storms of
sand of a similar nature several times attacked us,
but by using the same precautions we preserved ourselves
repeatedly from destruction. Having travelled
more than nine thousand miles over this inhospitable
plain, exposed to the perpendicular rays of a burning
sun, without ever meeting a rivulet, or a shower from
heaven to refresh us, we at length became almost desperate,
when, to our inexpressible joy, we beheld some mountains
at a great distance, and on our nearer approach observed
them covered with a carpet of verdure and groves and
woods. Nothing could appear more romantic or beautiful
than the rocks and precipices intermingled with flowers
and shrubs of every kind, and palm-trees of such a
prodigious size as to surpass anything ever seen in
Europe. Fruits of all kinds appeared growing wild
in the utmost abundance, and antelopes and sheep and
buffaloes wandered about the groves and valleys in
profusion. The trees resounded with the melody
of birds, and everything displayed a general scene
of rural happiness and joy.

CHAPTER XXVI

A feast on live bulls and kava—­The inhabitants
admire the European adventurers—­The Emperor
comes to meet the Baron, and pays him great compliments—­The
inhabitants of the centre of Africa descended from
the people of the moon proved by an inscription in
Africa, and by the analogy of their language, which
is also the same with that of the ancient Scythians—­The
Baron is declared sovereign of the interior of Africa
on the decease of the Emperor—­He endeavours
to abolish the custom of eating live bulls, which
excites much discontent—­The advice of Hilaro
Frosticos upon the occasion—­The Baron makes
a speech to an Assembly of the states, which only
excites greater murmurs—­He consults with
Hilaro Frosticos.

Having passed over the nearest mountains we entered
a delightful vale, where we perceived a multitude
of persons at a feast of living bulls, whose flesh
they cut away with great knives, making a table of
the creature’s carcase, serenaded by the bellowing
of the unfortunate animal. Nothing seemed requisite
to add to the barbarity of this feast but kava,
made as described in Cook’s voyages, and at the
conclusion of the feast we perceived them brewing
this liquor, which they drank with the utmost avidity.
From that moment, inspired with an idea of universal
benevolence, I determined to abolish the custom of
eating live flesh and drinking of kava. But I
knew that such a thing could not be immediately effected,
whatever in future time might be performed.